European Globalisation Adjustment Fund helped 13,000 dismissed workers to re-train and find new jobs

According to the 2021-2022 activity report of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) published today by the Commission, during the period of reference the EU allocated €51.8 million from the EGF to help over 13,000 displaced workers and self-employed people retrain and find a job.

The Commission received requests from nine Member States (Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Finland), with EGF funding mobilised in all 14 instances where support was requested. The largest numbers of affected workers were active in the air transport and automotive sector, followed by the warehousing and support activities for transportation sector. Most workers who received support lost their jobs due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures co-funded by the EGF were instrumental to help them re-train, for instance in digital skills, prepare for new employment opportunities through mentoring, career guidance and job search assistance or to set up their own business. In some cases, workers also received allowances to participate in training. Since 2014, the EGF has maintained an average reemployment rate of 60% across all mobilisation cases, highlighting the EGF's value in supporting displaced workers.

Through its funding for targeted training and other support measures for the reintegration of dismissed workers, the EGF contributes to the EU's efforts to support skills development, especially in the context of the European Year of Skills. Since 2007, the EGF has made €688 million available in 177 cases of mass redundancies, assisting almost 168,000 displaced workers across 20 Member States.

More information is available in the 2021-2022 EGF activity report and a factsheet on the EGF, with some project examples.